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Month: April 2013

Pete is the new kid learning, “The kids in his new school are way different than at his other school.” Everyone is talking about the “Promise” but will Pete join the group or continue to be odd man out. The Juice Box Bully is a realistic journey of a bully and the real power students have when standing up for each other. Bob Sornson and Maria Dismondy present this book for primary grades, encouraging empowering choices under stressful interactions and giving children concepts related to bystander behavior.
Recent studies are confirming, students are the real solution to abusive and bullying behavior in schools. They have the power to set the tone of what is acceptable in their social settings. Yet, they often lack the skill set to make empowering choices. The Juice Box Bully is an excellent resource for students and teachers to discuss real life situations and how to make appropriate choices.
For more information on TURNING STONEchoice and its process, visit http://www.turningstonechoice.com
~Sammy @TURNING STONEchoice

A typical work week had me digging through homework folders, reviewing random papers and discovering an article from Time Kids, detailing the average American child’s time usage of electronics, not including cell phones. I was blown away by the staggering hours, with the record high for 11-15 year olds clocking 10 hours a day. That is a full-time job, plus overtime! Intrigued over the possible implications for what can only be described as addictive behavior, I continued investigating. I found some even more startling facts. I like to think, I’m somewhat savvy when it comes to screen time in our home, but, I felt dumb as a brick when my general thought of – TV and video games are just bad for you– needed some major upgrading!
Excessive screen time, excessive being above the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation of 1-2 hours of daily screen time, places our children at risk for*
• Obesity – a 20% increase
• Cardiovascular Disease – a 20% increase
• Irregular Sleep Habits
• Behavior Problems – ADD
• Violence -A child will witness 200,000 violent acts on screens by age 18
• Impaired eyesight
• Impaired academic performance

To keep that list in perspective, a study published by the British Journal of Sports Medicine concluded, for every hour of television watching we do, our life span is reduced by 22 minutes! Aside from curb-siding our televisions, smashing our computers and pitching our iphones out the window (not happening here!), how do we limit usage in this digital age to a healthy level, when screens are in the classroom, at home, at the grocery store and even on the side of a highway?

The heavy burden is primarily in the home where students are entertaining themselves to…death. Intentional choices must be made to limit usage and replace that full time job with a healthy lifestyle. Here are five alternative choices to screen time for our children.

• Be bored – Out of boredom springs forth creative processes.
• Go outside– Hunt for bugs or rocks, juggle a ball, walk to a friend’s house
• Call a relative – Have an actual conversation, no FB, no Tweet, no Text
• Help make a meal– Yum!
• Read a book with paper pages…oooohhhh

I know the list can go on and on. Please share your alternative choices to screen time with our TSC family. Your expertise as an educator and parent can foster future, empowering choices for all of our children. Looking forward to your suggestions!

Boston, may your hearts be filled with peace and comfort in this time of distress. Know– you are not alone, we are with you. We are those who have experienced your moment, those who share in title, not only fellow American, but fellow human being. May the loved ones mourning the loss of family and friends somehow experience solace. May the parents who’s worst nightmare is upon them, have joy instead of deep sorrow, when remembering sweet times with their precious boy. May those with life changing injuries be healed and fully live each day.
Why someone would methodically choose to cause such devastation on a day filled with so much cheer, we shall never understand the mindset that is bent on seeking and destroying. Feeble answers may linger in the air, but, will never be justified. May we keep an unfathomable sense of this tragedy, in doing so, we keep our humanity alive. May we maintain the spirit of the Boston Marathon–embody an unfaltering human will to overcome.
Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the victims and families of the Boston Marathon attack.
Sammy@TURNING STONEchoice
For more information on TURNING STONEchoice and its process, visit http://www.turningstonechoice.com

A major obstacle children face with making positive choices is lack of exercise and nutrition. Our children are our future and we need to teach them the importance of healthy exercise and nutrition to help build positive choice making skills and an overall healthy lifestyle. The benefits to exercise and healthy nutrition outweigh the negatives. Their ability to overcome their obstacles to make healthier choices improves while building confidence and promoting self-esteem. Healthy eating provides more energy, better brain function and memory and allows children’s concentration to increase. By living a healthy lifestyle children can gain a positive feeling about them and decrease anxiety, reduce depression, and improve quality of sleep. Parents and educators your efforts to encourage our children to exercise regularly and instill the value of healthy nutrition is crucial. Let’s work together and give our children, of the future, this precious gift that will last a lifetime.

“Would you rather eat a furry tarantula or lick a squirrel?” These are the bizarre but fairly normal questions circling our meal times. Responses and explanations are just as amusing as the question themselves. Choosing to be a rebel on this occasion, I bowed out and refused to give-in to the pressure– “You have to choose one,” whinned one child. Today, I choose a squirrel and spider-free diet, thank you. There are more choices available beyond what others may offer, just like you all have choices in your life, I explain to my 3 boys. Nicky, immediately informs me, he has no choices. I get it. Mom, dad, teachers, coaches and even his older brothers seem to run the show. Children often feel limited in their choice making ability based on their position. Especially, if the circumstances of their lives are filled with stress; abuse, lack of sleep, lack of basic nutrition, etc. Many children are not even aware of the simple fact, that they do make choices each and every day, and their future choices are wide and very possible. As parents and teachers, may we remind our children, often, of their ability to make choices and encourage the self-empowering ones along the way, minus the furry spiders.

TSC just did a lesson to 1st & 3rd graders in a Camden Charter School using the book, “Cool Down and Work Through Anger.” This wonderfully written book is by Cheri J. Meiners. It is a fantastic book for showing children how to help deal with anger. There are many reasons for getting angry but how one chooses to deal with the feeling of anger is the key. This book gives the reader wonderful scenarios, discusses the feelings/emotions of anger, and discusses the choices we are faced with when dealing with the emotion of anger. The best part are the tips offered to children to help manage their anger. This book is highly recommended to any parent or educator of young children. A great choice for children learning how to deal with anger.